Refill Devotional, Week 8 Day 4: “Praying In The Spirit”

“Praying In The Spirit”

Acts 1:5-8, 2:4

One of the ways I have experienced being refilled is by praying in the Holy Spirit. There is something powerful and liberating about being able to pray when you don’t have the words to speak. Many people struggle with being baptized in the Holy Spirit and I was one of them for years. The way it sounded threw me off and it was not the way that I had experienced God before. I can be controlling at times, and praying in the made me feel like I lacked control. The word of God is clear about God always wanting to reveal more of Himself to us. 1 Corinthians 14 says that when we pray in the Spirit we speak to God. I was wrong, it didn’t lack control but a transfer of control took place.

The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, He waited for me to invite Him. After  years of arguing, studying, and praying, I realized that the gift was powerful and I wanted it as a part of my life.  It took three times at three different altars and some serious on-my-knees-pleading before I started praying in the spirit. I went from not understanding and arguing against it to desiring it with everything in me. When it finally happened, it felt like a release of my control and when the Holy Spirit took control.  I experienced a love and freedom like I had never before. Pray in the spirit if you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, because there is a unique refilling that happens in that prayer time. If you haven’t, study it out, pray, and be filled. Don’t be discouraged if you prayed and are still waiting, Luke 11:9-13, says that God will give it if we ask it.

Erin Howard